title: Prediction of apical thrombus formation in acute myocardial infarction based on left ventricular spatial flow pattern.
abstract: The predictive value of the left ventricular spatial flow pattern for thrombus formation was determined in 62 patients with acute myocardial infarction. A normal flow pattern by pulsed Doppler echocardiography was characterized by 1) simultaneous onset of blood motion at the mitral valve and apical level, and 2) a discontinuous Doppler signal along the lateral wall and interventricular septum. The flow pattern was assessed by these criteria, within 24 h after the onset of complaints and after 6 and 12 weeks. In 46 of the 62 patients, a normal flow pattern was found at the first examination; none of these 46 patients developed a thrombus during the study period. An abnormal flow pattern was seen at the first examination in 16 patients; this pattern normalized during follow-up in 6 patients, none of whom developed a thrombus. In the other 10 patients the abnormal flow pattern persisted, and 7 of these developed a thrombus. These findings suggest that a normal left ventricular flow pattern in the setting of acute myocardial infarction is not associated with subsequent thrombus formation. This observation may be of importance if anticoagulation is considered.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Delemarre
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Visser
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bot
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Dunning
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003326:Coronary Circulation; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000209:etiology*; D003328:Coronary Thrombosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005544:Forecasting; D006352:Heart Ventricles; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000150:complications*
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants